The UpTake: The first of three manufacturing institutes President Barack Obama has promised to create was announced today in North Carolina, and its focus is electronics. And to remind you of the innovation already happening in electronics in this nation, we bring you some of the brightest minds, so far, in the space.

C ould it be Linyou Cao at North Carolina State University? Or Anthony Atti of Phononic?

Who will join the the nation's top innovators in developing technologies that make faster and energy-efficient devices, electronics and motors?

These men are among the North Carolina innovators likely to benefit from the $140 million Next Generation Power Electronics Institute announced today by President Barack Obama in Raleigh, North Carolina. The consortium of 18 companies and seven universities from around the nation, to be based at North Carolina State University, won a year-long competition to become one of three new manufacturing institutes promised during Obama's 2012 State of the Union address.

The electric car maker (and commercial space shuttle launcher, though arguably not saving any energy here) is responsible for the product design of the Model S, the first high-end, all-electric sedan, and the Model X, a minivan/SUV model. The company also now sells its electric powertrain systems to Daimler and Toyota.

The MakerBot CEO was one of the founders of the first MakerBot 3D printer and he's since become the face of the 3D printing industry. MakerBot continues to fine-tune its own technology, all while providing a cheap and efficient way for others to create their own products and prototypes. And much higher-end 3D-printing is now underway, from body parts to consumer devices.

Laura Baverman is a business journalist newly relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina. Before her move, Laura spent nearly four years tracking Cincinnati's growing technology and startup scene for the Cincinnati Enquirer.

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